Today is the deadline for voters in the Port Angeles and Quillayute Valley school districts to submit tax levy ballots.
Clallam County Auditor Cathleen McKeown said voters can vote in a variety of ways, but the first and easiest option is by mail.
For their votes to count, voters can return their ballots in the self-addressed envelope that was sent to them with the ballots Jan. 19.
“The envelope must be postmarked with no later than the Feb. 8. date,” McKeown said.
“After that it won’t count.”
Voters can also personally deliver their ballots up to 8 p.m. at three locations in Clallam County:
* Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.
* Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St.
* Sequim Vehicle and Vessel Licensing Services at 1001 E. Washington St.
All three levies require a 60 percent “supermajority” to pass.
Port Angeles measures
Unlike previous levy elections in the Port Angeles School District, the current one carry two levy proposals that will each be valid for four years, if approved.
The maintenance and operations, or M&O levy, is a $26.8 million measure designed to fill the gap between state funding and actual school district expenses.
It would carry an approximate tax rate of $2.98 per $1,000 of assessed valuation — a 10-cent increase over the expiring levy’s tax rate that was passed two years ago.
Also on the ballot is a separate technology capital levy worth $3.6 million over four years if passed.
The technology levy, which would be used to upgrade computer resources and training for students and staff, would carry a rate of 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
Quillayute Valley levy
The proposed Quillayute Valley School District replacement M&O levy would collect $2.28 million over four years starting next year.
Like the Port Angeles M&O levy, this one would fund the maintenance of school buildings, kindergarten classes, all athletic and extracurricular activities, special education costs not covered by the state, and other programs.
This levy would increase the tax rate on district homeowners by 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which translates into homeowners paying an average rate of $1.80 per $1,000 valuation.
